Nations Championship involves 25,000-mile itinerary
England to split squad in July and leave a team to face Fiji
England have been handed a gruelling 25,000-mile travel itinerary for their inaugural Nations Championship fixtures in July and are expected to split their squad and field a weakened team against Fiji as a result.
As revealed exclusively by the Guardian, England’s match against Fiji – the week after they face South Africa in Johannesburg and the week before playing away in Argentina – will be staged at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Given the logistical problems that playing three matches in three continents in a fortnight entail, it is believed England will split their squad and leave a largely second‑string side at home to face the Pacific Islanders.
